Pile core



May 3, 1932. y E D: WATT 1,856,608

I PILE ICORE:

Filed Oct. 30, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l l l 66 hij W i l I A 54. w 52? 68 94 5.5i 58 u .9454 QU- -90 x Y e -60 .as` zo 46 44 44 'lln 21%, Wh' jP/az F L 2l /04 B. 62 i 22 106 ff /08 .42 t *2 'i V20 8B 244? 1 @MM/@w L 'fig INVENTOR- BY ATTORNEYS l E. D. WATT 1,856,608

PILE CORE Filed oct. 30, 195o 3 sheets-sheet 2 May 3y, 1932.

May' 3, 1932.

Fiss.

PILE CORE Filed Oct. 50, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a4 f f 7 g 74 ny Q w Vll/ INVENTOR :A

BY ATTORNEYS A @7h/L, M1 fm Patented May 3, 1932 STATES ELII-IU IJ.- WATT, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RAYMOND CONCRETE PILE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OIF NEW JERSEY PILE CORE Application led October 30, 1930. Serial No. 492,143.

This invention pertains to concrete piles and apparatus for forming them in situ, with particular reference to piles formed by first sinking a hollow shell and then filling t-he shell with lastic concrete to form the finished pile structure.

The shell is driven into the ground by means of a core inserted in the shell before the driving and removed after the driving is finished.

In any pile of given length ythe quantities of steel and concrete are less if the pile be tapered. Moreover, when a tapered pile penetrates firm clay or other earth having appreciable friction qualities, the tapered shape adds considerable bearing Value.

On the other hand, in some soils it is found that a tapered pile, if too long, may be a disadvantage because the frictional resistance due to the taper is suicient to render it difficult, or even impossible, to drive the pile to the desired depth. Furthermore, if the taper of the pile be continuous the pile may hang up in the upper soils which have been penetrated by the comparatively small point of the pile.

An object of the present invention is to take all practical advantage of the tapered feature, while avoiding its disadvantages. This is done by making the lower end of long piles tapered, usually for fifteen or twenty feet, and making the upper end straight,- sided, or non-tapered.

Heretofore it has not been possible to drive a pile shell longer than the core with which the driving operation is started, which is a serious matter when it is unexpectedly found necessary to drive a pile to an eXtra depth in order to reach firm footing. Another object of the invention, therefore, is to overcome that difficulty by making the upper, non-taper section of the pile in sections, whereby any desired depth may be reached, the driving being done by a driver of only moderate height.

Other objects are to provide a core having a lower non-collapsible tapered section and an upper collapsible non-taper section, with means for removing the two sections as a unit.

Further and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims, and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate what is now considered the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a view of the finished pile.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the driving head, the core expanding device, the upper end of the collapsible core, and the core withdrawal device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the core and shells thereon showing the oint between core sections.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the lower end of collapsible section, the upper end of the solid section, and the means for interconnecting the sections.

Fig. 5 -is a vertical section of the lower portion of the lower section.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on line 7*-7 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the lower core section comprises the hollow tapered member 10, to the lower end of which is fitted the driving shoe 12, and to the upper end of which is attached by key 14 the interior ferrule 16 which has at its upper end a downwardly facing annular lifting surface 18. The upper core comprises three leaves 20, expandible by cones 22 mounted at spaced intervals on vertical axial shaft 24 and adapted to engage inner conical surfaces of lugs 26 fast on leaves 20, except lower cone 22 which engages specially designed lugs 28. Lugs 28 are provided with annular' lifting surfaces 30 underneath and engaging surfaces 18 onthe ferrule 16 keyed to the lower noncollapsible core 10 (Fig. 4) b v the pin 14. Leaves 20 are attached to shaft 24 by links 32, 34 interconnecting lugs 36 on the leaves with lugs 38 on the shaft (Figs. 4 and 7).

The upper end of shaft 24 is in the form of an extension 40 secured for ease of assembly to shaft 24 by key 42. The upper end of the extension passes through a drilled hole in cross head 44 and has a head 46 adapted to slide in counterbore 48 in the cross head. Driving head 50 has in its interior a vertical cylinder 52 in which reciprocates a piston 54 having a piston rod 56 passing downwardly through stuffing box 58 and secured at itsl lower end, by key 60, to cross head 44. A compression spring 62 between upper cone 22 and the lower surface ofthe cross head serves to keep the cross head normally in contact with the lower side of shaft head 46. lllun-ger 54 may he forced upwardly or downwardly in its cylinder by fluid passing" through pipes 64, 66 and controlled by four-way valve 68. Cylinder head 70 closes the upper end of the cylinder.

The exterior surfaces of leaves are so shaped that when they are assembled to f form the core, they provide a. series of tapered or conical outer surfaces 71 with their smaller ends down; each tapered section being adapted to engage yan internally taperedV shell section.

The non-tapered upper core section may be lengthened at will by simply adding sec-j tions' one ata time during the driving operation'until the desired depth is obtained. VVhilethe core is beingremoved after driva ing, the sections may be removed one at a time as they appear above, the top of the driven shell. One convenient and eective type of core section joint is shown in Figs. 6 and 6. The lower end of each leaf of the upper section is provided with a lug `72 having a slot through its middle to receive a lug 74 attached to the upper'end of the lower section. A key 7 6 through each lug 72 and its cooperating lug 74 serves to secure the upper and lower leaf sections together.l

Whenever acore section is added it is of course necessary to add a corresponding section of shaft 24. The shaft sections are fastened together by keys 73.

For purpose of illustration the shells to be driven by the above described core are shown in the drawings as being of the sectional concrete type. On the lower noncollapsible tapered part of the core, the lowest shell -section comprises the concrete lining 78 surrounding the driving shoe 12 and extending upwardly foradistance around the sides of the core. The concrete lining 7 8 is covered by a thin metal casing 80. Above the lowest shell section just described the tapered core is covered by a series of shell sections of suitable dimensions to fit the core, each section comprising a concrete lining 82 and steel casing 84. Y

The upper non-taper core is fitted with a series of shells eachv comprising'a concrete lining 86 and steel casing 88, each being tapered on its inner surface to closely fit one of the tapered sections 71 of the core, so that it may be individually driven thereby. The outer surface of each of these shell sections is non-tapered. On every shell section throughout the length of the vcore the metall lic casing extends above its concrete lining to overlap the lower end of the shell section above it.

The upper ends of leaves 20 are operatively connected to the driving head as shown in Fig. 2. A circumferential boss 90 is engaged on its lower surface by an annular collar 92 threaded at 94 onto the lower end of head 50. rlhe upper ends of the leaves contact with an annular flat surface on the head through which 'the driving effect is transmitted from head to'leaves. Clearance 98 is provided between ring 92 and the lower end of head 50 to permit lateral movement of leaves 20 when the core is eX- panded 'or contracted.

With the above described structure in mined, the operation of the apparatus may be readily' understood.

During lthe driving operation fluidk pressure is maintained underneath piston 54, whereby shaft 24 is Ydrawn upwardly and cones 22, through the .instrumentality of lugs 26, force the leaves of the eXpansible upper core against the inner surfaces of theshell secthe piston, forcing cross head 44 downwardly relatively to head 46 until its lower edge reaches dotted line position 100 (Fig. 2). This movement compresses spring 62 sufriciently to force shaft 24 and cones22 downwardly to relieve the'pressure between leaves 20 and the shell sections which surround them. This would leave the collapsible core free to be easily lifted from the pile shell were it not for the fact that the tapered'noncollapsible core is attached to the lower end 3v;

of the collapsible core. To free the lower core the following steps are taken. While cross head 44 is at position 100, pins are inserted through holes102 at the outer ends of the cross head yand holes 104 in the upper ends of thrust links 106 o f appropriate length. The lower ends of links 106 are connected by pins 108 to a ring 110 which rests on the top surface of upper shell section 86. After that connection is made, additional pressure is applied between piston 54 and cylinder head 70. The piston, through cross head 44, links 106 and ring 110 pushes downwardly against the shell and at the same time head 70, through ring 92, leaves 20, Vand surfaces 18, 30, is pulling upwardly on the lower noncollapsible tapered core. By the time cross head 44 has reached the position indicated by broken line 112 (Fig. 2) the tapered core is free from its tapered shell and the entire core may be lifted out, leaving in theground a hollow shell which may be filled with plastic concrete to form the pile shown in F ig. l.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described but may be used in other ways without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims.y

l; A pile core comprising in combination, an upper portion including radially movable leaves, a lower solid portion, and means for supporting said solid portion from said leaves.

2. A pile core comprising in combination, an upper non-tapered portion including movable leaves, a lower solid, tapered core, means for moving said leaves radially, and means for suspending said tapered core from the lower ends of said leaves.

3. A pile core comprising in combination, a solid lower portion, an upper portion including radially movable leaves; means for forcing said leaves to an outward position and maintaining them in that position during the driving of the core, and means for supporting said lower portion from said leaves so that said portions form a unitary structure adapted for driving.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a pile core adapted for driving into the ground, a shell surrounding said core and adapted to lit tightly on said core during the driving operation, radially movable means for releasing said core from a portion of said shell after driving, and vertically movable means for releasing said core from the remaining portion of said shell after driving.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a

3 pile core adapted for driving into the ground,

a shell surrounding said core and adapted to lit tightly on said core during the driving operation, radially movable means for rei leasing said core from a portion of said shell after driving, and vertically movable means acting on said core and reacting on said shell for releasing said core from the remaining portion of said shell after driving.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a pile core adapted for driving into the ground and having a lower tapered portion and an upper non-tapered portion; a shell surrounding said core and adapted to be tightened on said core throughout its length during the driving operation, radially movable means for releasing the non-tapered portion of the core from said shell after driving, and means acting on said core and reacting on said shell for releasing the tapered portion of the core from the shell after driving.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a pile core adapted for driving into the ground and having a lower tapered portion and an upper non-tapered portion; a shell surrounding said core and adapted to be tightened on said'core throughout its length during the driving operation, radially movable means for releasing the non-tapered portion of the core from said shell after driving, and a power device supported by said core for pushing upwardly on said core and downwardly on said shell for releasing the tapered portion of the core from its surrounding shell after driving.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a pile core adapted for driving into the ground, a shell surrounding said core and adapted to iit tightly on said core during the driving operation, a head on said core, a power device supported by said head, radially movable leaves on said core adapted to engage said shell for a portion of its length, and means connecting said power device to said leaves for releasing said leaves from the shell portion surrounding them and for lifting said remaining portion of said core from the remaining portion of said shell.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a pile core adapted for driving into the ground and having a collapsible upper portion and non-collapsible lower portion; a shell surrounding said core and adapted to fit tightly thereon during the driving operation, a driving head on said core, a duid-controlled power device in said head, and means operatively interconnecting said power device and said core whereby said device is eective to remove the pressure between the collapsible portion of the core and the shell and to lift the core whereby the solid portion of the core is released from the shell surrounding it.

l0. In apparatus of the class described, a pile core adapted for driving into the ground and having a collapsible upper portion and non-collapsible tapered lower portion; a shell surrounding said core and adapted to lit tightly thereon during the driving operation, a driving head on said core, a fluidcontrolled power device in said head, and means operatively interconnecting said power device and said core whereby said device is effective to remove the pressure between the collapsible portion of the core and the shell and to lift the core within the shell whereby the tapered portion of the core is released from the shell surrounding it.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a hollow pile core adapted for driving into the ground, and having a collapsible upper portion and a tapered non-collapsible lower portion a shell surrounding said core and adapted to fit tightly thereon during the driving operation; a driving head on said core; a vertically movable fluid controlled piston in said head; means operable by said piston for releasing the collapsible portion of said core whereby its pressure against its surrounding shell is released; and means also operable by said piston for thereafter lifting said core within the shell whereby the llO l Ll

taperedportion the Core is released from` the shell surrounding it. v n

12. In apparatus of the class described, a hollow pile ytore yadapted for driving into the ground, aiidhaving a collapsible upper portion and a tapered non-collapsible lower portion; a shell surrounding said core and adapted to lit tightly thereon during the driving operation; a driving head on said-core; a vertically movable fluid controlled piston in said head; means operable by said piston for releasing the collapsible portion of said vcore `whereby vits pressure against its surrounding sliellis released; and means also operable byV said piston for ythereafter pushing upwardly on said Core and downwardly on said shell whereby the core is raised relatively to said shell torelease the tapered poi'- tioii of said Core from the shell surrounding 13. In apparatus of the class described, a hollow pile core adapted for driving into the ground, and having a collapsible upper portion and a tapered non-collapsible lower portion connected thereto; a shell surrounding said core and adapted to iit tightly thereon during the driving operation; a driving h-ead on said core; a vertically movable fluid controlled piston in said head; means interconnecting said piston and lsaid 'core whereby an initial ymovement of lsaid piston is effective to release the collapsible portion of said core whereby its pressure against its surrounding shell is released, and whereby further` move ment of said piston is eective for lifting said core within the shell whereby tliertapered portion of the core is released from the shell surrounding it. 1

, 14. In apparatus of the class described, a hollow pile core adapted for driving into the ground, and having a collapsible upper portion and a tapered non-collapsible lower portion connected thereto;,a shell surrounding said core and adapted to fit tightly thereon during the driving operation; a driving head .on said core; a vertically movable fluid controlled piston in said head; means interconnecting said piston and said core whereby an initial movement of said piston is effective to rrelease they collapsible portion of said core whereby its pressure against its surrounding shell is released, and whereby further movement of said piston is effective for pushing upwardly on said core and downwardly on said shell whereby the core is raised relatively to said shell to release the tapered portion of said core from the shell surrounding it.

15. A unitary pile core compri-sing an up-V per expansible portion and a lower noncollapsible portion connected thereto and removable therewith. n

16. A pile vcore comprising an Vupper nontapered collapsible portion` and a lower ta- 17. Adriving core comprising fa lower noncollapsible portion and an upper expansibleA nected to and removable therewith and a pile n shell adapted to closely fit said core while said upper non-tapered expansible portion is eX- panded.

20. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a core comprising a lower tapered non-collapsible portion and anupper expansible portion connected to and removable therewith, a shell fitted to said ltapered lower portion, a shell surrounding said upper portion, means for expanding said upper portion of the core to forcibly engage the shell surrounding the upper portion during the driving operation, and means for disengaging said shells.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

ELIHU D. WATT.

pered non-collapsible portion connected to Y and removable therewith. 

